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Ruth Robinson's Year of Miracles
A heart-warming read full of quirky characters! Perfect for fans of Gail Honeyman, Rachel Joyce, Joanna Cannon and Graeme Simsion… All Ruth Robinson ever wanted was the man of her dreams. But she lost the man, and got a baby instead… Six months ago, Ruth Robinson had a regular job, a monthly salary and a comfortable flat to go home to.After quitting her job ready to go travelling, a momentary lapse of judgement put a major spanner in the works…Now Ruth has a baby on the way and no place to call home…With the father of her child AWOL and her parents less than impressed, Ruth decides to move in with her eccentric uncles.And when the Virgin Mary appears in their hen house, it is clear Ruth’s unplanned pregnancy isn’t the only ‘miracle’ she’ll be encountering this year…RUTH ROBINSON’S YEAR OF MIRACLES is a hilarious, off-beat, (anti) romantic comedy full of quirky characters and family dramas. It is an uplifting read - perfect for the holidays - that is full of humour, wit and tear-jerking reality, from a strong voice in women’s fiction.'a most engaging novel... Frances Garrood is a talented writer' - Andrew Davies‘Frances Garrood is a magnificent writer’ - thebookbag.co.uk
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 9, 2018
234 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Frances Garrood
6 books12 followersFrom Author's Website:
My main career was nursing, but I also trained and worked for many years as a relationship counsellor with Relate. Widowed in 1992, I re-married and now live with my husband in Wiltshire, where I enjoy riding my horse in the beautiful Pewsey Vale, reading, writing, and keeping up with my grandchildren. I also write regularly to a prisoner on Texas Death Row.
I first started writing as a child; mainly poetry, but there was one horrific novel (mercifully, never finished) in which a woman gives birth to a hideously deformed child in a thunderstorm. While I was bringing up my four children, I began writing and selling short stories to magazines before the enforced immobility following a fractured spine gave me the time to tackle my first novel.
All my books are very strongly relationship-based. My writing has also been affected by my widowhood, and my books sometimes include issues of death and bereavement. Strangely (and not by design) they all seem to include pet animal funerals (not a subject which normally occupies my mind!).
My main career was nursing, but I also trained and worked for many years as a relationship counsellor with Relate. Widowed in 1992, I re-married and now live with my husband in Wiltshire, where I enjoy riding my horse in the beautiful Pewsey Vale, reading, writing, and keeping up with my grandchildren. I also write regularly to a prisoner on Texas Death Row.
I first started writing as a child; mainly poetry, but there was one horrific novel (mercifully, never finished) in which a woman gives birth to a hideously deformed child in a thunderstorm. While I was bringing up my four children, I began writing and selling short stories to magazines before the enforced immobility following a fractured spine gave me the time to tackle my first novel.
All my books are very strongly relationship-based. My writing has also been affected by my widowhood, and my books sometimes include issues of death and bereavement. Strangely (and not by design) they all seem to include pet animal funerals (not a subject which normally occupies my mind!).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
September 3, 2018
Thank you to the publisher Sapere Books who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
In the last year I have read two 5 star books in succession from this author. So, after reading "Dead Ernest" and "Cassandra's Secret", I came to expect great things from author Frances Garrood. However, her last two books that I have read, "Women Behaving Badly" and this one, have sadly disappointed me.
This story takes place in England (a delightful staple of Garrood's books) and centers upon the main character of Ruth Robinson. Ruth plays the violin and has had some mediocre success in this profession. With the benefit of a small financial legacy from a deceased grandmother, Ruth decides to treat herself to a belated "gap year" trip. To that end, she lets her home to a family of Norwegians while she's away. However, fate steps in to shelve her plans. Over the years she has been friends with a bearded trombonist named Amos, and they eventually have an intimate night together. Following this event, Amos sets out to the Bahamas on a cruise ship as part of a musical ensemble.
Ruth Robinson is pregnant! Initially, she decides to abort the pregnancy. But, following anesthesia and as she is being wheeled away, Ruth has a sudden revelation. She envisions a sort of seahorse/rabbit apparition representing the life growing inside her, it scrambling from the ceiling to the window and dissipating into a puddle of ectoplasm. Following this hallucination of sorts, Ruth finds the strength to voice her desire to stop the abortion.
Ruth's parents are strict Catholics, and unable to stop the letting of her small house to the Norwegians, Ruth hopes to find refuge with her family. Her father in particular is horrified at Ruth's condition, and very worried about the neighbors finding out. To that end, a solution is arrived at to send Ruth to stay with her twin uncles Silas and Eric who live in a rambling and cluttered Victorian home named Applegarth. Things only get weirder from here. We meet one eccentric character after another. There is Blossom, the Catholic woman who rides a bike each day to Applegarth to clean the house. She's not a very good cleaner, and is very abrupt and non-communicative. In fact, she often takes out the vacuum to put an end to conversations. She has a beautiful daughter Kaz who is a pole dancer and a bulky son (from an affair) named Lazzo who is on government assistance for questionable reasons. Uncles Silas and Eric are also very eccentric. They never worked at an actual job, but seem to be able to survive on a family legacy as well as from farming. Another eccentric quality one of the twins has is his penchant for taxidermy. With no actual formal training, he makes repeated attempts at this endeavor, often over-stuffing or not applying the correct fake eyes to the object. Also, dead animals can often be found wrapped up at the bottom of the regular family refrigerator for later taxidermy projects! Another eccentric quality of one of the twins is an obsession with potential health problems. He has a book of medical symptoms and is always self-diagnosing based on what he has gleaned from the book.
Coming out of left field (to add to this book's quirky nature) is the discovery by Blossom that the Virgin Mary seems to be etched into an area on the outside of the chicken coup. Blossom has big plans to publicize this discovery for those who wish to make pilgrimage to the miracle. However, the owners of the house, Silas and Eric, are not Catholic. In fact, one of the twins has had an elaborate and ongoing project to challenge the notion that Noah's Ark could have existed.
Ruth has decided to have the baby, but seems distracted by other things and not really focused on the imminent arrival of her baby. As time goes on she decides that she would like to locate Amos (who has no idea of the pregnancy) and perhaps give an enduring relationship with him a chance.
I keep using the word "eccentric" because this was a very odd cast of characters adding up to a very improbable story. With each of Garrood's books I delve into, they bend increasingly this way until I feel they have slipped off the deep end. This was kind of cute and mildly interesting, but I probably would have stopped reading if I wasn't provided an arc for review.
In the last year I have read two 5 star books in succession from this author. So, after reading "Dead Ernest" and "Cassandra's Secret", I came to expect great things from author Frances Garrood. However, her last two books that I have read, "Women Behaving Badly" and this one, have sadly disappointed me.
This story takes place in England (a delightful staple of Garrood's books) and centers upon the main character of Ruth Robinson. Ruth plays the violin and has had some mediocre success in this profession. With the benefit of a small financial legacy from a deceased grandmother, Ruth decides to treat herself to a belated "gap year" trip. To that end, she lets her home to a family of Norwegians while she's away. However, fate steps in to shelve her plans. Over the years she has been friends with a bearded trombonist named Amos, and they eventually have an intimate night together. Following this event, Amos sets out to the Bahamas on a cruise ship as part of a musical ensemble.
Ruth Robinson is pregnant! Initially, she decides to abort the pregnancy. But, following anesthesia and as she is being wheeled away, Ruth has a sudden revelation. She envisions a sort of seahorse/rabbit apparition representing the life growing inside her, it scrambling from the ceiling to the window and dissipating into a puddle of ectoplasm. Following this hallucination of sorts, Ruth finds the strength to voice her desire to stop the abortion.
Ruth's parents are strict Catholics, and unable to stop the letting of her small house to the Norwegians, Ruth hopes to find refuge with her family. Her father in particular is horrified at Ruth's condition, and very worried about the neighbors finding out. To that end, a solution is arrived at to send Ruth to stay with her twin uncles Silas and Eric who live in a rambling and cluttered Victorian home named Applegarth. Things only get weirder from here. We meet one eccentric character after another. There is Blossom, the Catholic woman who rides a bike each day to Applegarth to clean the house. She's not a very good cleaner, and is very abrupt and non-communicative. In fact, she often takes out the vacuum to put an end to conversations. She has a beautiful daughter Kaz who is a pole dancer and a bulky son (from an affair) named Lazzo who is on government assistance for questionable reasons. Uncles Silas and Eric are also very eccentric. They never worked at an actual job, but seem to be able to survive on a family legacy as well as from farming. Another eccentric quality one of the twins has is his penchant for taxidermy. With no actual formal training, he makes repeated attempts at this endeavor, often over-stuffing or not applying the correct fake eyes to the object. Also, dead animals can often be found wrapped up at the bottom of the regular family refrigerator for later taxidermy projects! Another eccentric quality of one of the twins is an obsession with potential health problems. He has a book of medical symptoms and is always self-diagnosing based on what he has gleaned from the book.
Coming out of left field (to add to this book's quirky nature) is the discovery by Blossom that the Virgin Mary seems to be etched into an area on the outside of the chicken coup. Blossom has big plans to publicize this discovery for those who wish to make pilgrimage to the miracle. However, the owners of the house, Silas and Eric, are not Catholic. In fact, one of the twins has had an elaborate and ongoing project to challenge the notion that Noah's Ark could have existed.
Ruth has decided to have the baby, but seems distracted by other things and not really focused on the imminent arrival of her baby. As time goes on she decides that she would like to locate Amos (who has no idea of the pregnancy) and perhaps give an enduring relationship with him a chance.
I keep using the word "eccentric" because this was a very odd cast of characters adding up to a very improbable story. With each of Garrood's books I delve into, they bend increasingly this way until I feel they have slipped off the deep end. This was kind of cute and mildly interesting, but I probably would have stopped reading if I wasn't provided an arc for review.
May 17, 2019
Ruth Robinson’s Year of Miracles is the fourth novel by British author, Frances Garrood. At thirty-six, Ruth Robinson is still hopeful of a life partner, but finding herself single, pregnant, jobless and (temporarily) homeless does not seem to auger well for the immediate future. Her parents have never understood her love for music nor her (obviously insecure) career choice (violinist) and, when she turns up needing a place to live, at least for a while, her father (religious, strict and expertly killjoy) is disappointed in his daughter and worried only about what their church friends might think.
He arranges accommodation with Ruth’s maternal uncles in the country and her mother (doormat) goes along with it. But the seventy-four-year-old twins, Silas and Eric, are delighted to have her, and make her welcome even if their housekeeper, Blossom (cranky and irritable, with copious Catholic disapproval) doesn’t.
Although she has nothing but happy memories of her childhood summer vacations at Applegarth, adult Ruth is surprised to find that she doesn’t mind the social isolation and the lack of connectivity (no internet or mobile reception), and begins to quite relish the farm chores, the fresh food and the company of her eccentric uncles. Silas is a budding taxidermist, while Eric is hell-bent on disproving Noah’s Ark. A bit of busking in town with Mr. Darcy, the dog brings in welcome funds.
But then their peaceful existence is disrupted. Initially it is Blossom’s discovery and enthusiastic promotion of an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary that has a stream of pilgrims flocking to their chicken shed. Later, Applegarth becomes a refuge for various family members and acquaintances, putting them under further stress. And of course, an elderly gentleman, however fit and healthy, is more likely to succumb to a medical condition, to the distress of his twin.
What a cast of quirky characters! Apart from those already mentioned, there’s an absent trombonist, a pole dancer, a jobless young man with an affinity for animals, a gay godfather figure and a retired piano tuner seeking a parent. And Applegarth, with its animals, fowl and shambolic house adds to the charm. While they may start off a little stereotypically, most of the characters soon develop depth and appeal. And Ruth, for all her flaws, is easy to cheer for.
The story is separated into trimesters with a description of foetal development prefacing each of these. Regular sources of humour are Eric’s ongoing discoveries of successive complications in the logistics of the Ark, and Silas’s preoccupation with all matters medical, including a purely academic interest in his own. The dialogue is quick and clever, and the plot does include several miracles, even if they are of the very human variety. Funny and heart-warming.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Sapere Books
He arranges accommodation with Ruth’s maternal uncles in the country and her mother (doormat) goes along with it. But the seventy-four-year-old twins, Silas and Eric, are delighted to have her, and make her welcome even if their housekeeper, Blossom (cranky and irritable, with copious Catholic disapproval) doesn’t.
Although she has nothing but happy memories of her childhood summer vacations at Applegarth, adult Ruth is surprised to find that she doesn’t mind the social isolation and the lack of connectivity (no internet or mobile reception), and begins to quite relish the farm chores, the fresh food and the company of her eccentric uncles. Silas is a budding taxidermist, while Eric is hell-bent on disproving Noah’s Ark. A bit of busking in town with Mr. Darcy, the dog brings in welcome funds.
But then their peaceful existence is disrupted. Initially it is Blossom’s discovery and enthusiastic promotion of an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary that has a stream of pilgrims flocking to their chicken shed. Later, Applegarth becomes a refuge for various family members and acquaintances, putting them under further stress. And of course, an elderly gentleman, however fit and healthy, is more likely to succumb to a medical condition, to the distress of his twin.
What a cast of quirky characters! Apart from those already mentioned, there’s an absent trombonist, a pole dancer, a jobless young man with an affinity for animals, a gay godfather figure and a retired piano tuner seeking a parent. And Applegarth, with its animals, fowl and shambolic house adds to the charm. While they may start off a little stereotypically, most of the characters soon develop depth and appeal. And Ruth, for all her flaws, is easy to cheer for.
The story is separated into trimesters with a description of foetal development prefacing each of these. Regular sources of humour are Eric’s ongoing discoveries of successive complications in the logistics of the Ark, and Silas’s preoccupation with all matters medical, including a purely academic interest in his own. The dialogue is quick and clever, and the plot does include several miracles, even if they are of the very human variety. Funny and heart-warming.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Sapere Books
August 18, 2018
Ruth was brought up by very old fashioned religious parents who were always disappointed in her life choices and so when age 36 she turns up homeless and pregnant her relationship with them hits rock bottom! Unable to cope with the shame of an unmarried pregnant daughter they arrange for her to go and stay with her uncles in their rambling old farmhouse. Eric and Silas are identical twins in their seventies and completely eccentric,.... Silas is obsessed with picking up dead animals from the side of the road and practising taxidermy and Eric is intent on proving that Noah' s Ark couldn't possibly have held all those animals! With all sorts of animals floating around, a mad cleaner and various other people turning up to stay at the farmhouse it is certainly not going to be a quiet pregnancy for Ruth!
A lovely book with great characters all totally eccentric and living in a madhouse but one you couldn't put down until you had finished it
A lovely book with great characters all totally eccentric and living in a madhouse but one you couldn't put down until you had finished it
September 8, 2019
A rather delightful, splendid read.
Ruth Robinson, a woman in her thirties, is alone and pregnant and can't decide if she should keep her baby. Her disappointed religious father, worried what the neighbours might think, is relieved when she goes to stay with her uncles who live in a remote rambling house called Applegarth out in the sticks.
Ruth has fond memories of holidaying at Applegarth as a child. In this book, her life changes and she develops an eccentric extended family which help to see her through the tough times. The quirky adorable characters, each one drawn with warmth and wit, are guaranteed to make you smile. Applegarth itself, so shambolic and with its array of animals, only adds to the charm. Though somewhat stereotypical, the majority of the characters soon developed a certain amount of depth and appeal, for me. Ruth, for all her shortcomings, was easy to cheer on and have hope for. Packed to the brim with gentle humour, this story was also surprisingly moving. As someone who enjoys character-driven fiction, I certainly had a few characters here to marvel and worry over! With its very impressive dialogue, Ruth Robinson's Year of Miracles by Frances Garrood is a worthwhile and highly recommended read.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Sapere Books via NetGalley at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Ruth Robinson, a woman in her thirties, is alone and pregnant and can't decide if she should keep her baby. Her disappointed religious father, worried what the neighbours might think, is relieved when she goes to stay with her uncles who live in a remote rambling house called Applegarth out in the sticks.
Ruth has fond memories of holidaying at Applegarth as a child. In this book, her life changes and she develops an eccentric extended family which help to see her through the tough times. The quirky adorable characters, each one drawn with warmth and wit, are guaranteed to make you smile. Applegarth itself, so shambolic and with its array of animals, only adds to the charm. Though somewhat stereotypical, the majority of the characters soon developed a certain amount of depth and appeal, for me. Ruth, for all her shortcomings, was easy to cheer on and have hope for. Packed to the brim with gentle humour, this story was also surprisingly moving. As someone who enjoys character-driven fiction, I certainly had a few characters here to marvel and worry over! With its very impressive dialogue, Ruth Robinson's Year of Miracles by Frances Garrood is a worthwhile and highly recommended read.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Sapere Books via NetGalley at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
April 24, 2023
— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Ruth Robinson's Year of Miracles
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Frances Garrood
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Chick Lit
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 9th August 2018
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 2/5
"Many women the wrong side of thirty-five seem to want a baby but not necessarily a man. I am on the wrong side of thirty-five, and all I ever wanted was the man. But it seems that I have got the baby instead."
I'm unsure if there is any synopsis better for this than the opening paragraph of this book. Ruth finds herself pregnant from a one-night stand who then disappears off the face of the Earth. She is thrown out of her deeply religious parents' house for having a baby out of wedlock, and is forced to reside with her eccentric uncles whilst maintaining denial about the existence of the baby.
I just couldn't get along with this story. There were far too many quirky characters with their annoying idiosyncrasies that sat incongruently with me. The introspection was clumsy; a veiled attempt at humour that came off more offensive than remotely funny.
The plot was boring. Ruth's lackadaisical attitude to pretty much everything only adds an element of boorish anticipated prolongation and frustration to what is already a dragged out story. There's far too much conjecture and plot fodder to enjoy any remnants of what was maybe once a good plot to enjoy.
This was less of an uplift and more of something to pass the time with. I was close to putting it on my did-not-finish shelf but convinced myself that if I persevered, I would be rewarded with a satisfying ending. Unfortunately, this was not to be.
🧚🏻♀️
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𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Ruth Robinson's Year of Miracles
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Frances Garrood
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Chick Lit
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 9th August 2018
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 2/5
"Many women the wrong side of thirty-five seem to want a baby but not necessarily a man. I am on the wrong side of thirty-five, and all I ever wanted was the man. But it seems that I have got the baby instead."
I'm unsure if there is any synopsis better for this than the opening paragraph of this book. Ruth finds herself pregnant from a one-night stand who then disappears off the face of the Earth. She is thrown out of her deeply religious parents' house for having a baby out of wedlock, and is forced to reside with her eccentric uncles whilst maintaining denial about the existence of the baby.
I just couldn't get along with this story. There were far too many quirky characters with their annoying idiosyncrasies that sat incongruently with me. The introspection was clumsy; a veiled attempt at humour that came off more offensive than remotely funny.
The plot was boring. Ruth's lackadaisical attitude to pretty much everything only adds an element of boorish anticipated prolongation and frustration to what is already a dragged out story. There's far too much conjecture and plot fodder to enjoy any remnants of what was maybe once a good plot to enjoy.
This was less of an uplift and more of something to pass the time with. I was close to putting it on my did-not-finish shelf but convinced myself that if I persevered, I would be rewarded with a satisfying ending. Unfortunately, this was not to be.
🧚🏻♀️
♡ my bookstagram • my twitter ♡
↑ follow my socials for more bookish content. ↑
August 15, 2018
I received this ebook from NetGalley, I like books with the word "Miracle" in the title and this one was true at its word.
A woman's story, raised in a strict Catholic environment ....where her violin is her best freind and life, and disappointing her parents ends up pregnant , searching on her future what to do...and finds family is an important role that year and the bonds that help her find herself as she is going through the process.
Her uncles,who are twins, play a main event in not only her life but all the visitors who come stay with them,their cottage farm is almost like a Bed and Breakfast house except they get to stay all year.
They wear their heart on their sleeve,accepting every family member with open arms no matter what their flaws are.
Being a twin myself, I can relate to the uncles (the twins) antics and roles,and Ruth,the main character becomes very fond of them and understands their twin bond.
AN eccentric woman,Blossom...who is a true beleiver of the Virgin Mary image that appears in the Hen House wall, fights every moment for it not to be removed. Deep down, I found myself understanding her bitterness for people but deep down she loves being in this environment of family all around.
The humor and eccentriness in some of the characters keeps the reader glued to the chapters. The ending have a surprise twist and will keep you wanting to read more about these families.
I recommend this book if you want a good happy romance story to read.
A woman's story, raised in a strict Catholic environment ....where her violin is her best freind and life, and disappointing her parents ends up pregnant , searching on her future what to do...and finds family is an important role that year and the bonds that help her find herself as she is going through the process.
Her uncles,who are twins, play a main event in not only her life but all the visitors who come stay with them,their cottage farm is almost like a Bed and Breakfast house except they get to stay all year.
They wear their heart on their sleeve,accepting every family member with open arms no matter what their flaws are.
Being a twin myself, I can relate to the uncles (the twins) antics and roles,and Ruth,the main character becomes very fond of them and understands their twin bond.
AN eccentric woman,Blossom...who is a true beleiver of the Virgin Mary image that appears in the Hen House wall, fights every moment for it not to be removed. Deep down, I found myself understanding her bitterness for people but deep down she loves being in this environment of family all around.
The humor and eccentriness in some of the characters keeps the reader glued to the chapters. The ending have a surprise twist and will keep you wanting to read more about these families.
I recommend this book if you want a good happy romance story to read.
March 6, 2019
Ach, toto bolo take mile citanie...za kazdou kapitolou som mala na tvari usmev a po skonceni knihy mam velmi dobry pocit.
Zaujimava kniha pre zeny, kde vsak nejde o lasku medzi partnermi, ale skor o vztahy v blaznivej rodine, kde dvaja 70. rocni strykovia, dvojcata, maju zvlastne hobby, jeden vypchava zvierata a druhy pracuje nad projektom Archa, a do domu si vezmu Ruth, ktora akurat prisla o pracu a ktora mala v plane rok cestovat, no na poslednu chvilu zistila, ze caka dieta so znamym.
Jej rodicia, bigotni krestania, sa jej chcu zbavit, kedze co by na to povedali susedia...Na farme u strykov stretne dalsie zaujimave postavicky, Blossom, co znamena pucik, ale taku neprijemnu postavu som uz davno nevidela, LOL, potom Kenta, ktory hlada neznameho otca a bude to pravdepodobne jeden z tych spominanych strykov...
A samotna Ruth, ktora sa nevie ako postavit k materstvu, ktora sa vyspala so znamym a ktora ho teraz zufalo hlada,a by mu povedala o babatku, a ktora najde zazemie tam, kde necakala. Bavila som sa a odporucam.
Zaujimava kniha pre zeny, kde vsak nejde o lasku medzi partnermi, ale skor o vztahy v blaznivej rodine, kde dvaja 70. rocni strykovia, dvojcata, maju zvlastne hobby, jeden vypchava zvierata a druhy pracuje nad projektom Archa, a do domu si vezmu Ruth, ktora akurat prisla o pracu a ktora mala v plane rok cestovat, no na poslednu chvilu zistila, ze caka dieta so znamym.
Jej rodicia, bigotni krestania, sa jej chcu zbavit, kedze co by na to povedali susedia...Na farme u strykov stretne dalsie zaujimave postavicky, Blossom, co znamena pucik, ale taku neprijemnu postavu som uz davno nevidela, LOL, potom Kenta, ktory hlada neznameho otca a bude to pravdepodobne jeden z tych spominanych strykov...
A samotna Ruth, ktora sa nevie ako postavit k materstvu, ktora sa vyspala so znamym a ktora ho teraz zufalo hlada,a by mu povedala o babatku, a ktora najde zazemie tam, kde necakala. Bavila som sa a odporucam.
May 17, 2019
I adored this book! Very much Lara Kaye's English Animals in its feel. Ruth Robinson is a joy - she finds herself pregnant and jobless & homeless. her disapproving parents are no help and ship her off to live with her 2 eccentric twin uncles on a remote farm. These 2 uncles are also wonderful as are all the other characters who fall into Ruth's life as she lives on the farm. There are moments of loneliness, friendship, romance and frustration and I loved it all. One of my favourite sections was when Ruth took to the streets busking with her violin. I didn't want it all too cosily tied up at the end but I did want it to work out - I've leave you to read it to see how it panned out.
August 14, 2018
The Virgin
Would recommend this story to anyone who would like a laugh!
The main person who's name I have forgotten! Gets pregnant, her father and mother are not very pleased so she is shipped off to her twin uncles, by the way she is 35 ,her parents still think she is a teenager, her uncles treat her like a friend and support her all the way through, Blossom, who is the housekeeper only does what she wants to, her daughter becomes the best friend of the lady in question.And she finds the father of the baby. All ends well.
Would recommend this story to anyone who would like a laugh!
The main person who's name I have forgotten! Gets pregnant, her father and mother are not very pleased so she is shipped off to her twin uncles, by the way she is 35 ,her parents still think she is a teenager, her uncles treat her like a friend and support her all the way through, Blossom, who is the housekeeper only does what she wants to, her daughter becomes the best friend of the lady in question.And she finds the father of the baby. All ends well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2019
What a delightful read!
Meet Ruth.
An unemployed, newly homeless musician with an additional bit of baggage, apart from her violin and luggage... an unplanned pregnancy!
Ruth is torn between roughing it and traipsing, cap in hand to her religious parents, who cannot accept her unmarried pregnant state, on top of the fact that she followed her heart to make music her career.
She is shipped off to her eccentric twin uncles who live on a farm and proceeds to settle into a quiet life... until the Virgin Mary is discovered on the side of a hen house!
The fun that followed this discovery, alongside trying to track down the father of her baby, making friends with the pole dancing daughter of the harridan housekeeper, learning to love the animals, and discovering new family, kept me reading from cover to cover.
Do I recommend?
Well, yes. Yes, I do!
A great book for any time of the year, not just a summer page-turner!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Sapere Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Meet Ruth.
An unemployed, newly homeless musician with an additional bit of baggage, apart from her violin and luggage... an unplanned pregnancy!
Ruth is torn between roughing it and traipsing, cap in hand to her religious parents, who cannot accept her unmarried pregnant state, on top of the fact that she followed her heart to make music her career.
She is shipped off to her eccentric twin uncles who live on a farm and proceeds to settle into a quiet life... until the Virgin Mary is discovered on the side of a hen house!
The fun that followed this discovery, alongside trying to track down the father of her baby, making friends with the pole dancing daughter of the harridan housekeeper, learning to love the animals, and discovering new family, kept me reading from cover to cover.
Do I recommend?
Well, yes. Yes, I do!
A great book for any time of the year, not just a summer page-turner!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Sapere Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2020
Easy read
This was an easy read, but while I didn't dislike it, I didn't love it either. The story had some great parts but none of the characters really grabbed me. They didn't all quite fit together as well as I wanted them to, there seemed to be gaps in their stories a little bit. But if you're looking for a gentle chick lit read this will do nicely!
This was an easy read, but while I didn't dislike it, I didn't love it either. The story had some great parts but none of the characters really grabbed me. They didn't all quite fit together as well as I wanted them to, there seemed to be gaps in their stories a little bit. But if you're looking for a gentle chick lit read this will do nicely!
July 19, 2019
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This is a light hearted read with great characters and story line.
There is plenty of humour and although far fetched in places makes for a good holiday read.
This is a light hearted read with great characters and story line.
There is plenty of humour and although far fetched in places makes for a good holiday read.
August 13, 2018
Another wonderful book
Having read and really enjoying Dead Earnest I was looking forward to reading Frances’s latest novel. Another tour de force with wonderful quirky characters and a brilliant throwaway comic
Voice. Enjoy!
Having read and really enjoying Dead Earnest I was looking forward to reading Frances’s latest novel. Another tour de force with wonderful quirky characters and a brilliant throwaway comic
Voice. Enjoy!
September 21, 2018
I had so much fun reading this book, I can't recommend it enough. Ruth was raised in a very strict, Catholic home, and as such, when she tells her parents that she's pregnant, her father wants her out. Nevermind that she's a grown woman with nowhere to go right now, she's got to go. So she's off to live with her older, eccentric, twin uncles, Eric and Silas, and their ornery housekeeper Blossom, who isn't too pleased at Ruth's intrusion into what she considers her domain.
Their house is anything but clean, and while overwhelming with clutter and an entire various collection of barn animals, Ruth starts to settle in. While she's trying to find the father of what she terms her unborn seahorse/rabbit, she's settling into life, helping out with the animals and generally staying out of Blossom's way. She's fond of her uncles, Silas with his fascination with all things medicine, and Eric, intent on proving the impossibility of Noah's Ark.
Blossom, a sort of "pick and choose" Catholic, sees the Virgin Mary on the side of the henhouse, and much to Eric and Silas' chagrin, a mild sort of chaos descends on the house, with devout followers coming to pay their respects. While Blossom manages to keep the people relatively out of the way, it's the beginning of the house turning upside down.
Every time I thought the house couldn't get more full, more people moved in. I laughed with every new occupant, but I loved how each of them worked so perfectly in the household. Garrood has given us some excellent characters and I adored each of them. Ruth's life swings from moments of hilarity to seriousness and profound thoughts. I do hope the author plans to give us some more from either Ruth or the uncles, because I'm not quite ready to let them go. Very well done!
Their house is anything but clean, and while overwhelming with clutter and an entire various collection of barn animals, Ruth starts to settle in. While she's trying to find the father of what she terms her unborn seahorse/rabbit, she's settling into life, helping out with the animals and generally staying out of Blossom's way. She's fond of her uncles, Silas with his fascination with all things medicine, and Eric, intent on proving the impossibility of Noah's Ark.
Blossom, a sort of "pick and choose" Catholic, sees the Virgin Mary on the side of the henhouse, and much to Eric and Silas' chagrin, a mild sort of chaos descends on the house, with devout followers coming to pay their respects. While Blossom manages to keep the people relatively out of the way, it's the beginning of the house turning upside down.
Every time I thought the house couldn't get more full, more people moved in. I laughed with every new occupant, but I loved how each of them worked so perfectly in the household. Garrood has given us some excellent characters and I adored each of them. Ruth's life swings from moments of hilarity to seriousness and profound thoughts. I do hope the author plans to give us some more from either Ruth or the uncles, because I'm not quite ready to let them go. Very well done!
September 6, 2018
Ruth Robinson is about to take a sabbatical year from work and go travelling around the world with a friend, when an unexpected pregnancy turns all her plans upside-down. Already having let out her flat, she has nowhere to go but to go and stay with her twin uncles in their house out in the countryside. She knows who the father of her baby-to-be is, but they were not in a relationship, and as he is off travelling to unknown destinations as well, Ruth has no way of getting in touch with him. Her parents aren’t being helpful either, as they still regard it as a disgrace to have a child out of wedlock. Lucky for Ruth, her two eccentric uncles take a different attitude. While staying with them, she also makes a few other new friends and acquaintances; each with their own individual quirks. And as if life wasn’t complicated enough already, one day there is the mystic appearance of a perfect image of the Virgin Mary on the wall of the hen house, attracting a growing stream of pilgrims…
All in all an enjoyable romantic comedy with some memorable characters, details and turns of events. ‘Light’ reading in one way; but at the same time, in the midst of hilarious absurdities it also offers some “food for thought” about relationships, values and beliefs (or, in short – life!).
All in all an enjoyable romantic comedy with some memorable characters, details and turns of events. ‘Light’ reading in one way; but at the same time, in the midst of hilarious absurdities it also offers some “food for thought” about relationships, values and beliefs (or, in short – life!).
April 25, 2019
Ruth Robinson's Year of Miracles by Frances Garrood is a light read, looking at how Ruth has ended up living with her uncles, pregnant, with her Anglican parents unhappy, and the Catholic cleaner ecstatic that the Virgin Mary has appeared on the back of the hen house.
There are lots of different characters in here, with the eccentric twin uncles, who like to play up to an audience, and Amos, father of the child, last seen somewhere in the world!
I thought this was OK, but I had problems with some aspects, like Amos being uncontactable due to changing mobile numbers, and that being misplaced. To me, it felt a little forced, and in this day and age where everyone has social media, email (especially for a musician looking for a job), and mobile phones, a bit unlikely.
Ruth Robinson's Year of Miracles was published on 9th August 2018, and is available on Amazon to buy on Kindle and on Waterstones to pre-order the hardback, which is coming out on 16th May this year. I've found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!
I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Sapere Books (the publishers) for this book.
There are lots of different characters in here, with the eccentric twin uncles, who like to play up to an audience, and Amos, father of the child, last seen somewhere in the world!
I thought this was OK, but I had problems with some aspects, like Amos being uncontactable due to changing mobile numbers, and that being misplaced. To me, it felt a little forced, and in this day and age where everyone has social media, email (especially for a musician looking for a job), and mobile phones, a bit unlikely.
Ruth Robinson's Year of Miracles was published on 9th August 2018, and is available on Amazon to buy on Kindle and on Waterstones to pre-order the hardback, which is coming out on 16th May this year. I've found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!
I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Sapere Books (the publishers) for this book.
July 25, 2019
Ruth Robinson is preparing to take a gap year when she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. Having leased out her flat, she is newly homeless and on the direction of her strict and religious parents, Ruth moves in with her eccentric uncles on their farm, to save her father from the shame - "people will talk".
I struggled with Ruth's character and her lackadaisical attitude. It also took me some time to warm to her uncles, Eric and Silas. I found their unconventional pastimes contrived. The farm was isolated enough to lack modern conveniences, including decent mobile reception and the internet - mutually exclusive to the convenience of Ruth's character development; but reasonably accessible to permit new characters to be continually introduced with their varying sub-plots.
There is emphasis on the inflexible attitudes of their housekeeper, Blossom and her meddling nature that lead to a few of Ruth's "Miracles". All of which were less remarkable or welcomed than a miracle, and could be better described as "unexpected challenges" but that would not have been a catchy title!
I was almost going to shelve this one, but persisted and was grateful for the vibrancy injected about halfway through. This one took a lot of effort, but I was appeased in the end.
I struggled with Ruth's character and her lackadaisical attitude. It also took me some time to warm to her uncles, Eric and Silas. I found their unconventional pastimes contrived. The farm was isolated enough to lack modern conveniences, including decent mobile reception and the internet - mutually exclusive to the convenience of Ruth's character development; but reasonably accessible to permit new characters to be continually introduced with their varying sub-plots.
There is emphasis on the inflexible attitudes of their housekeeper, Blossom and her meddling nature that lead to a few of Ruth's "Miracles". All of which were less remarkable or welcomed than a miracle, and could be better described as "unexpected challenges" but that would not have been a catchy title!
I was almost going to shelve this one, but persisted and was grateful for the vibrancy injected about halfway through. This one took a lot of effort, but I was appeased in the end.
September 8, 2018
Ruth Robinson finds herself pregnant after a one night fling with a friend from her music group. However by the time she realizes she is pregnant the father has left on a tour and Ruth has no way to get in touch with him as she herself was supposed to be going on a gap year tour. She has leased out her apartment and now has no where to go except home to parents who are not approving of Ruth’s out of wedlock condition. Ruth is sent to live with her uniquely different twin uncles in Applegarth to await the birth of her baby. Here she encounters many special characters. Each chapter seemed to introduce another event or situation that seemed crazy and strange and yet it seemed like this family cared about each other as only a family can.
I wish that the author would have expanded the background on each of the characters more. I wanted more information on the younger years of the twins and on Ruth ‘s parents. And who was Ruth before she became pregnant ?
The ending was a bit of a let down after all the drama of the whole book as I felt it just wound down.
I wish that the author would have expanded the background on each of the characters more. I wanted more information on the younger years of the twins and on Ruth ‘s parents. And who was Ruth before she became pregnant ?
The ending was a bit of a let down after all the drama of the whole book as I felt it just wound down.
October 30, 2018
I love Frances’ work so when this came out I jumped at the opportunity to read it.
Thank god for a happy story Frances! I was honestly starting to think someone broke you past the point of no return.
The story follows Ruth, pregnant after a drunken one night stand with her friend. Kicked out of her religious parents house, she is relegated to her eccentric uncles abode. Thinking life is over, she throw herself into farm life when a mysterious Virgin appears in the hen house.
The Virgin doesn’t fix things for her though. Long lost family appear, her parents house is destroyed in the midst of their separation. Ruth decides she may love her baby daddy who has disappeared off the face of the world. Add to that the usual family dramas (not always her own) and health issues, Ruth’s life is coming together and falling apart simultaneously.
It does have a happy ending thankfully! Next happy book please Frances?
Thank god for a happy story Frances! I was honestly starting to think someone broke you past the point of no return.
The story follows Ruth, pregnant after a drunken one night stand with her friend. Kicked out of her religious parents house, she is relegated to her eccentric uncles abode. Thinking life is over, she throw herself into farm life when a mysterious Virgin appears in the hen house.
The Virgin doesn’t fix things for her though. Long lost family appear, her parents house is destroyed in the midst of their separation. Ruth decides she may love her baby daddy who has disappeared off the face of the world. Add to that the usual family dramas (not always her own) and health issues, Ruth’s life is coming together and falling apart simultaneously.
It does have a happy ending thankfully! Next happy book please Frances?
September 21, 2018
Thank you for Sapere Books for asking me to read and review the above book. All comments are my own.
This is a well written book, focuses on family and friends relationships, the ups and downs of peoples emotions and idiosyncrasies, and the power of humans and how they can overcome the good and bad in live.
Ruth is a young woman about to become a single mum, who has been made redundant from her work in an Orchestra and has very strict religious upbringing and this story is about her life over roughly a year and how that year changes her ideas on life and relationships and her feelings on being pregnant and the lack of knowledge she has on what a baby requires.
This is a lovely story written with passion and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes to loose themselves in a book that they cant put down.
This is a well written book, focuses on family and friends relationships, the ups and downs of peoples emotions and idiosyncrasies, and the power of humans and how they can overcome the good and bad in live.
Ruth is a young woman about to become a single mum, who has been made redundant from her work in an Orchestra and has very strict religious upbringing and this story is about her life over roughly a year and how that year changes her ideas on life and relationships and her feelings on being pregnant and the lack of knowledge she has on what a baby requires.
This is a lovely story written with passion and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes to loose themselves in a book that they cant put down.
September 14, 2019
I enjoyed this book even though this is not the type of novel I usually read. The main character Ruth has to change her plans to go travelling when she realises she is pregnant. She cancels her trip but realises has already leased her flat to a couple for 12 months who are determined to move in as planned, even though Ruth has no where to live. Her only option is to go back home and live with her parents but as soon as they find out she is pregnant she has to leave immediately as her father is very religious and doesn't want anything more to do with her. Ruth is distraught as she doesn't know what to do until she is given a lifeline when her two uncles say she can stay with them on their smallholding for as long as she wants. She accepts their offer and the story develops from there. The book is easy and pleasant to read with some amusing bits which made me smile.
February 24, 2021
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade ...
Poor Ruth, if being snubbed by her boyfriend , then getting fired, then having to change a long awaited world adventure wasn't enough, finding out she was pregnant put the icing on the cake. With no home, no support from her parents, and no clue what she was going to do, she finds shelter and love from her twin, eccentric, older uncles. She ultimately accepts her new lifestyle and finds herself learning how to simplify and live on a shoestring budget.
Ruth appears to be in complete denial that she will be a mother and only a week before her due date does she decide to think about preparing for the inevitable.
This book is funny and has a lot of life lessons intertwined. It's a light read, but one that is hard to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I hope you do as well.
Poor Ruth, if being snubbed by her boyfriend , then getting fired, then having to change a long awaited world adventure wasn't enough, finding out she was pregnant put the icing on the cake. With no home, no support from her parents, and no clue what she was going to do, she finds shelter and love from her twin, eccentric, older uncles. She ultimately accepts her new lifestyle and finds herself learning how to simplify and live on a shoestring budget.
Ruth appears to be in complete denial that she will be a mother and only a week before her due date does she decide to think about preparing for the inevitable.
This book is funny and has a lot of life lessons intertwined. It's a light read, but one that is hard to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I hope you do as well.
August 30, 2018
The idea of the book was really good - but it didn't work out too well. The characters in the book are lovely and I loved their character development but the stories seemed a bit half baked. I didn't understand the point of some of the story lines - like the chickens. I think it may have been better to take a few sideline stories and fully develip them rather than a lot of little ones that don't really mesh well. Having said that, I loved Kaz and Lazzo - they were my favorite characters in the entire book. I liked Ruth but I liked her better in context of her growth with the other characters. I loved Rosie and slowly even liked Brian (somewhat). It's definitely a cute read but I think the most I would give it is 3.5 stars.
September 6, 2018
This book was exactly what I needed for my bedtime reading. It was like being a fly on the wall in this family's life and watching the soap opera unfold as they went about their day to day life.
I really liked the character of Ruth and really felt for her, especially with her parents and their views. Uncles Silas and Eric were charming and I could imagine these eccentric older folk living life their way out in the sticks.
I enjoyed the community element of this story and how their house atttracted all sorts of 'waifs and strays' but despite most of them having no shared history, they all participate in daily life together.
The drama was not overstated or 'overdone' and seemed to be a natural part of the ups and downs of an ordinary group of people's lives. It was a delighful read.
I really liked the character of Ruth and really felt for her, especially with her parents and their views. Uncles Silas and Eric were charming and I could imagine these eccentric older folk living life their way out in the sticks.
I enjoyed the community element of this story and how their house atttracted all sorts of 'waifs and strays' but despite most of them having no shared history, they all participate in daily life together.
The drama was not overstated or 'overdone' and seemed to be a natural part of the ups and downs of an ordinary group of people's lives. It was a delighful read.
October 26, 2018
Ruth is planning to go travelling for a year when she finds she is pregnant to one of her good friends. She comes from a conservative, religious family that doesn't approve of women having children outside of wedded bliss. So she goes to live with her uncles who are twins on their rambling home with animals and a recalcitrant cleaner by the name of Blossom.
I have read two other books by Garrood and enjoyed them more than this one which was engaging but missing some of the quirkiness that has made her other novels more endearing. Given that Ruth didn't want a child and was planning an abortion but was talked out of it at the last moment by a gay friend, I found the rest of the book a bit unbelievable. Nevertheless it is entirely readable if you just want something light and non-taxing.
I have read two other books by Garrood and enjoyed them more than this one which was engaging but missing some of the quirkiness that has made her other novels more endearing. Given that Ruth didn't want a child and was planning an abortion but was talked out of it at the last moment by a gay friend, I found the rest of the book a bit unbelievable. Nevertheless it is entirely readable if you just want something light and non-taxing.
July 17, 2019
A lovely, easy read for a summer afternoon. Full of quirky characters and not at all the normal man, baby, woman saga you may be expecting. It is an uplifting read, full of humour, wit and tear-jerking reality. I loved it.
All Ruth Robinson ever wanted was the man of her dreams. But she lost the man, and got a baby instead… Six months ago, Ruth Robinson had a regular job, a monthly salary and a comfortable flat to go home to.
After quitting her job ready to go travelling, a momentary lapse of judgement put a major spanner in the works… Now Ruth has a baby on the way and no place to call home…
With the father of her child AWOL and her parents less than impressed, Ruth decides to move in with her eccentric uncles.
And when the Virgin Mary appears in their hen house, it is clear Ruth’s unplanned pregnancy isn’t the only ‘miracle’ she’ll be encountering this year…
All Ruth Robinson ever wanted was the man of her dreams. But she lost the man, and got a baby instead… Six months ago, Ruth Robinson had a regular job, a monthly salary and a comfortable flat to go home to.
After quitting her job ready to go travelling, a momentary lapse of judgement put a major spanner in the works… Now Ruth has a baby on the way and no place to call home…
With the father of her child AWOL and her parents less than impressed, Ruth decides to move in with her eccentric uncles.
And when the Virgin Mary appears in their hen house, it is clear Ruth’s unplanned pregnancy isn’t the only ‘miracle’ she’ll be encountering this year…
August 25, 2018
If you are looking for a simle lazy summer read, this could be it. However overall it came out rather flat and boring. The beginning was quite good. I was expecting much more of it. I'm missing a proper storyline with ups and downs. It feels like it's just unrelated pieces randomly put together.
I find Ruth unlikable and as the story unravels a bit annoying. The highlight of this book are Ruth's uncles. I love their excentric characters.
I would recommend only for those that are tired of everyday harsh reality and want bit of heartwarming fairytale magic that doesn't require much concentration.
I find Ruth unlikable and as the story unravels a bit annoying. The highlight of this book are Ruth's uncles. I love their excentric characters.
I would recommend only for those that are tired of everyday harsh reality and want bit of heartwarming fairytale magic that doesn't require much concentration.
September 1, 2018
A surprisingly Good read
Nothing at all what I was expecting , even coincided abandoning the story , very glad I continued ,as I became more and more familiar with each mad .character ,each one more eccentric than the one before , you realise you're judging each book because of its cover , Didn't ever think Noah and his arch would be so cleverly be questioned , best line in the book " where is his stuffed. mouse ? oh its here under the tea towel ". this would make a fantastic film,
Nothing at all what I was expecting , even coincided abandoning the story , very glad I continued ,as I became more and more familiar with each mad .character ,each one more eccentric than the one before , you realise you're judging each book because of its cover , Didn't ever think Noah and his arch would be so cleverly be questioned , best line in the book " where is his stuffed. mouse ? oh its here under the tea towel ". this would make a fantastic film,
February 13, 2022
Great relaxing read.
Six months ago, Ruth Robinson had a regular job, a monthly salary and a comfortable flat to go home to.
After quitting her job ready to go travelling, a momentary lapse of judgement put a major spanner in the works…
Now Ruth has a baby on the way and no place to call home…
With the father of her child AWOL and her parents less than impressed, Ruth decides to move in with her eccentric uncles.
And when the Virgin Mary appears in their hen house, it is clear Ruth’s unplanned pregnancy isn’t the only ‘miracle’ she’ll be encountering this year…
Loved it!
Six months ago, Ruth Robinson had a regular job, a monthly salary and a comfortable flat to go home to.
After quitting her job ready to go travelling, a momentary lapse of judgement put a major spanner in the works…
Now Ruth has a baby on the way and no place to call home…
With the father of her child AWOL and her parents less than impressed, Ruth decides to move in with her eccentric uncles.
And when the Virgin Mary appears in their hen house, it is clear Ruth’s unplanned pregnancy isn’t the only ‘miracle’ she’ll be encountering this year…
Loved it!
September 9, 2018
When Ruth goes on a trip she thinks she meets the man of her dreams. Must of been, because he is no longer around and he left her with a 'little' reminder of him....she's pregnant! Now she has no job, no home and her parents not happy nor impressed with her problem. She moves in with her uncles who are wacky and eccentric. This is a great story that anyone can relate to and see themselves or someone they know in it. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book.
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